Elevator filing appliance



10, 1959 H. c. BEHRENS ETAL 2,912,113

ELEVATOR FILING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi m IINVENTOR.

H erberfi GBehrens a R? 7 Carl D. Lira/her '2;

ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1959 H. c. BEHRENS E TAL 2,912,118

ELEVATOR FILING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 23, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

5 Herbert CiBehrens w I I 26 4o Carl D. Grabber '21: W 2!;

ATTORNEYS 10, 1959 H. c. BEHRENS ETAL ELEVATOR FILING APPLIANCE 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 23, 1955 INVENTOR. Herbert LIBehrens CarlDfirazber 2 1959 H. c BEHRENS ETAL 2,912,118

ELEVATOR FILING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 23, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 an mum.A m a m Wa B H W www rr a fi H.

INVEN TORS ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1959 H. c. BEHRENS ET AL ELEVATOR FILINGAPPLIANCE Filed Nov. 23, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Herberfi CZBeIzrens w BYCarl D. Grab er '2;

Man

United States Patent ELEVATOR FILING APPLIANCE Herbert C. Behrens,Easton, Pa., and Carl D. Graber,

Orrville, Ohio, assignors to Diebold, Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,670

7 Claims. (Cl. 211-121) The invention relates generally to filingappliances, and more particularly to a filing appliance for holdingrecord cards, as in a card index system, in such manner as to make largeblocks of the cards selectively accessible to the operator, and thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No.168,782, filed June 17, 1950, now abandoned.

Certain prior filing appliances of the card index type include recordcards arranged substantially radially of a mounting drum which isrotatable on a horizontal axis. While this type of rotary file makesgroups or blocks of cards selectively accessible as the drum is rotated,it has a number of disadvantages. For example, when a block of cards isremoved the rotary drum becomes unbalanced and difficult to manipulate;the cards must be hung or fastened in special trays on the drum so thatthey do not fall out when they are upside down; and the card capacity ofthe rotary file is greatly reduced by the waste space inside of the drumand between the drum and the corners of the rectangular cabinet in whichit is housed.

Other prior filing appliances include a plurality of card-holding traysarranged about a horizontal axis for movement through an orbit oftravel, whereby the trays are successively presented at an accessibleposition in the housing of the appliance. In certain filing appliancesof this type the trays were swingably mounted on carriers so as tomaintain their upright position by gravity. Other similar devicesattempted to provide anti-tilting means for maintaining the trays intheir upright positions in an attempt to prevent spilling the traycontents; but such means have not been satisfactory to prevent tiltingat all positions in the orbit of travel of the trays moving in eitherdirection and at certain locations of travel the trays may upset, forexample, where a tray is unevenly loaded with cards only in one side ofthe tray, a twisting moment about the pivotal axis of the tray causesupsetting.

Another disadvantage of other prior card-filing appliances is they theymay work satisfactorily during movement of the trays in one directiononly. If the trays are moved in the reverse direction the trays may bemoved to an accessible position with greater speed. Thus, if anelectrically operated filing appliance is provided with reverse movementfor the trays, a particular tray may be moved to the work station in aminimum of time by traveling through the shorter path from a remotelocation in the orbit of travel. Also, in some prior reversibleappliances having partial anti-tilting devices the trays may be movedupright in one direction of travel, but may be upset at a particularlocation when moving in the reverse direction. Thus, the reversal offorces on the trays may combine with other existing forces to upset thetrays.

In addition, it is desirable to provide a filing appliance of minimumoverall height and maximum card-carrying capacity and convenient forworking with the cards in the trays from one end of the device, in whichcard- "ice carrying trays are held against tilting at all timesregardless of location or direction of movement, and are mounted forsuch movement on a pair of endless chains moving over offset sprocketswhich provide the minimum height and working convenience arrangements.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved filing appliance construction which eliminates substantiallyall of the disadvantages of prior rotary card files, while retainingtheir inherent advantages.

Another and more specific object is to provide a novel card index filewhich makes movable blocks of record cards of increased numbersselectively accessible and removable at a predetermined location,without becoming unbalanced to such extent as to materially aifect theoperation of the file.

Another object is to provide a novel filing appliance which movablycarries straight interchangeable conventional trays of record cards inan endless path without requiring anchoring or hanging the trays orcards to hold them in upside down position.

Another object is to provide a novel filing appliance havingcard-carrying trays with anti-tilting means that maintains the traysupright throughout an orbit of travel, particularly where the trays areunevenly loaded.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved filing appliancemovably supporting blocks of record cards for selective accessibility,and having maximum card capacity per unit of floor space.

Another object is to provide a novel'record card filing appliance ofmaximum capacity and accessibility which will movably accommodatevarious heights of cards interchangeably.

Still another object is to provide a novel record card filing appliancewhich selectively makes two trays accessible simultaneously inside-by-side position. g

A further object is to provide a novel record card filing appliancehaving a plurality of card trays selectively movable to accessibleposition, in which if desired only part of the trays may be used tocontain cards, in order to speed up the operation while maintaining asubstantial capacity.

Another object is to provide a novel record card filing appliance whichaccomplishes the foregoing objects in an economical constructionsubstantially entirely made of sheet metal parts in simply formedshapes.

A still further object is to provide a novel and improved record cardfile in which a plurality of card trays are mounted for movement in asubstantially rectangular path and adapted to be housed in a rectangularcabinet occupying a minimum amount of space and adapted to be insulatedto provide a fireproof construction.

Another object is to provide a novel filing appliance havingcard-carrying trays driven by offset sprockets and adapted to permitaccess to the trays from the end having the lower sprocket, with aminimum over-all height to the appliance.

Another object is to provide a novel filing appliance havingcard-carrying trays movable in reverse directions and havinganti-tilting means for the trays to maintain the trays uprightthroughout their orbit of travel in either direction.

Finally, it is an object to provide a novel and improved card indexfiling appliance which accomplishes the fore going objects and which isadapted for manual or automatic operation.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions,arrangements and combinations comprising the present invention, apreferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the specification as exemplifying the best known mode ofcarrying out the invention, the nature of the inven tion being set forthin the following and the scope of the invention being defined in theappended claims. I 1 In general terms, the filing appliance comprisingthe present invention consists of vertically spaced sprockets journaledin longitudinally spaced frame members and endless chains trained aroundsaid sprockets, there being a plurality of trays located between saidframe members in two vertical rows, and carried on the laterally spacedchains for movement in elevator fashion in an orbit of travel in onedirection or the other upwardly in one row and downwardly in the other,the trays being mounted on the chains by lever arms arranged to increasethe angular velocity of the trays in traveling around the sprockets, themountings at the opposite ends of the trays being offset; andanti-tilting means connected to the trays including endless track meansadjacent at least one end of the trays, the track means havingroller-entry openings at upper and lower ends thereof, the anti-tiltingmeans also including at least one cam bracket secured to each tray, apair of spaced rollers on each cam bracket, the rollers being separatelyengageable with the track means, and there being roller transfer trackportions at the lower end portion of the track means communicating withthe lower roller-entry opening whereby the rollers engage the lowertrack portion and the corresponding roller transfer portionsimultaneously during movement of the trays through the lowermostportion of their orbit of travel.

Referring to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown by way of example; Figure 1 is a side elevationpartly in section, with parts broken away, of the novel elevator filingappliance, with the exterior cabinet omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view as on line 22, Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view as on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

4 is a vertical sectional view as on line 4-4, 1g.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view, withdistant parts removed, as on line 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 66, Fig. 1, withdistant parts removed;

F1g. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing various relatrve positions ofadjacent trays when one of the trays is passing around the uppersprocket, as viewed in Fig. 3;

i Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating in full lines theparts shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3;

F Frg 9 is a top plan sectional view as on the line 9-9,

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view looking in the directron of thearrows 10-10, Fig. 8, but showing the tray holders at other locations intheir path of travel;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on'the line 1111, Fig. 10;and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 12-12, Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Throughout the drawings, the inner framework and mounting mechanismcarrying the filing trays has been illustrated for the sake of claritywithout any exterior cabinet, because the cabinet forms no part of thepresent invention, and various types of suitable cabinets may be used tohouse the trays and supporting mechanism therefor. It will be obviousthat the cabinet may include a top lid which can be lifted or swung outof the way to expose or make accessible the tops of the two uppermosttrays in the position of Fig. 4 for working on the cards contained inthose trays.

The novel filing appliance preferably includes a base plate 10 having adownturned channel-shaped marginal flange 11 and movably supported at.the front end by means of rollers 12 journaled under the frame Oangugeneral statement,

lar brackets 13. Preferably, the top plate of the base 10 is cut outabove the rollers, as indicated at 14, and hood plates 15 are welded tothe base over the cut-out portions. The rear end of the base ispreferably extended beyond the supporting frame of the filing applianceso as to provide a narrow platform 10' for a purpose to be described,and the rear end of the base is preferably movably mounted on relativelylarge rollers 16 which extend through slots 17 in the base extension 10,and are journaled on channels 18 secured as by welding to the undersideof the base plate and extending longitudinally to reinforce the same, asshown in Fig. 3.

The longitudinally spaced front and rear supporting frames preferablyinclude vertically extending channelshaped plates 20 and 21,respectively, having angular flanges 22 extending vertically along theirside edges and folded under at right angles at the bottom and spotwelded to an inwardly folded flange 23 at the bottom of the web, whichis in turn welded to the base plate 10, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and4.

Gusset plates 24 and 25 are secured to the lower portions of the channelplates 20 and 21, respectively, as by welding, and the bottom edges ofthe gusset plates have inturned flanges 26 which may be spot welded tothe base. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flanges 26 of gusset plate 24may be bolted to the cover plates 15 by bolts 27. Preferably, the gussetplates have inturned reinforcing flanges 28 along their inclined sideedges.

At the upper end of the vertical channel plate 20, a bearing plate andhousing 30 is secured as by bolts 31, for mounting a suitableanti-friction bearing 2 in which one end of a sprocket shaft 33 isjournaled, there being a sprocket 34 keyed on the shaft adjacent to thebearing 32. The other end of the shaft 33 extends through and isjournaled in a bearing 35 similar to bearing 32, mounted in a housing 36and secured by bolts 37 on the upper end portion of the channel plate21. A driven sprocket 38 of smaller diameter than sprocket 34 is keyedon shaft 33 adjacent to the bearing 35.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the channel plate 21 is extended above thesprocket 38, and a stub shaft 39 is secured in a hub plate 40 which isattached to the channel 21 by bolts 41. A double sprocket 42 isjournaled by bearings 43 on the inner end of the shaft 39, and the outersprocket portion 42a is the same diameter as sprocket 38 and alignedtherewith. The inner sprocket portion 42b is the same diameter as thesprocket 34 on the front end of the shaft. A chain 45 operativelyconnects the sprocket 38 to the sprocket portion 42a so that thesprocket portion 42b is driven at the same speed as the sprocket 34.

The means for driving the sprocket shaft 33 may include a driven pulley46 keyed on the projecting end 33' of the sprocket shaft, as shown inFig. 1, and a driving belt 47 operatively connects driven pulley 46 witha suitable motor drive supported on the extension 10' of the base.Obviously, the pulley 46 may be replaced by a hand wheel to make theoperation manual.

The front and rear endless chains for movably supporting the filing cardtrays are indicated at 49 and 50, respectively, being trained around theupper sprockets 34 and 42, respectively. The sprocket 42 is mountedabove the level of sprocket 34 for a purpose to be described. The lowerends of the chains 49 and 50 are trained around sprockets 51 and 52journaled on the front and rear plates 20 and 21, respectively, thesprocket 52 being spaced above the level of the sprocket 51 the samedistance as the sprocket 42 is spaced above sprocket 34 so that thechains 49 and 50 are of identical length. The mountings of the sprockets51 and 52 are identical so that only the mounting of the sprocket 52will be described.

The sprocket 52 is journaled in suitable anti-friction bearings 53 whichare supported on a stub shaft 54 secured at its outer end in a plate 55and at its inner end 011 a bracket 56, which has a horizontal flangeportion 57 extending over the sprocket 52 and secured to the plate 55.The plate 55 and bracket 56 provided an adjustable mounting for thesprocket 52 so that the slack in the chain 50 can be taken up. The meansfor adjusting the sprocket mounting preferably includes an adjustingbolt 58 threaded through a stationary plate 59 and abutting the flange57 of the bracket, the stationary plate 59 being secured to angularbrackets 60 welded to the channel plate 21. The plate 55 is guided atits upper end by the plate 59, and at its lower end by a bolt 61, whichpasses through a slot in the bottom portion of plate 55.

The means for guiding the chains preferably includes verticallyextendingchannel members 62 having outturned flanges 63 welded to theinner surfaces of the plates 26 and 21, respectively. These channels 62are notched out at their top ends as indicated at 64 and 64',respectively, to fit around the hubs of the front sprocket 34 and therear sprockets 38 and 42. The members 62 are also notched out at theirbottom ends as indicated at 65 to fit around the hubs of the lowersprockets 51 and 52. The notches 65 communicate with upwardly extendingnarrow notches 66 which fit around the horizontal flanges 57 of themounting brackets 56, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The vertical channels 62 are tied together by a transverse channel plate67 which extends transversely between the strands of the chains 49 and50 and is fastened at its ends to the webs of channels 62, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

The tray holders for the card trays are rectangular pans and supportedat intervals on and between the chains 49 and 50. Each tray holderinclude-s a sheet metal bottom wall 68, front and rear end walls 69 and70, and narrow side walls 71. Preferably the end walls 69 and 76 havetapered side wing flanges 72 bent inwardly at right angles overlappingand secured to the ends of the side walls. Between the wing flanges, theside walls are preferably provided with downturned stiffening lipflanges 73.

The card trays indicated generally at T are rectangular and of suchdimension as to fit somewhat loosely in the tray holders so as to beeasily lifted out of the tray holders. The card trays T are preferablyformed of sheet metal, each having flat bottom walls 74, exteriorvertical end walls 75 with inclined interior card-abutting walls 76, andnarrow side walls 77.

Each tray holder has a mounting plate 79 fastened to the lower portionof the front wall 69, and a mounting plate 80 fastened to the upperportion of the rear wall 70, and the shafts or trunnions 81 and 81' forpivotally mounting the tray holders on the chains 49 and 50 are securedin these plates. Preferably the pivot shafts 81 and 81 have shoulderedportions 82 secured in the plates 79 and 80, and are journaled inanti-friction bearings 83 mounted in circular housing plates 84.

Each front pivot shaft 81 is connected to the chain 49 by a forked leverhaving arm portions 85 having a V-like arrangement as shown, connectedat their inner ends to extended link pins at intervals along the chain49, and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the circular bearinghousings 84. The rear pivot shafts 81 are similarly connected by forkedlever arms 85 to the rear chain 50. Thus as the lever arms travel withthe chains around the sprockets, the tray holders pivot in the bearings83 and remain in horizontal positions at all times.

Consequently, the trays T do not need to be fastened to the trayholders, although they may be integral therewith if desired, and therecord cards contained in the trays need not be fastened therein, sothat plain unpunched conventional cards can be used. Thus any type ofrecord card can be used in the trays, and cards from an old system canbe transferred into the trays T. Cards of 6 various heights can be usedby varying the spacing between tray holders.

Outer guide means for the chains 49 and 50 between sprockets preferablyincludes vertical angle plates 86 secured to the side legs of channelplates 62 and having flanges extending inwardly between the links of thechain and terminating adjacent the roller pins thereof. Inner guides mayconsist of L-shaped vertical plates 87 secured to the webs of channels62 and having flanges extending outwardly between the chain links insimilar fashion. As shown in Fig.2, the ends of forked arms may haveguide angles 88 extending inwardly between the chain links alongside ofthe angle plates 86.

The tray holders are pivoted to the arms 85 at the lower portions oftheir front ends and at the upper portions of their rear ends, so thatthe tray holders are mounted on misaligned pivots and can not tip overas they travel around the sprockets. This mounting arrangement alsolimits the amount of side sway or swinging of the tray holders. However,such arrangement necessitates spacing the rear sprockets 42 and 52 abovethe front sprockets 34 and 51, respectively, by an amount equal to thevertical distance between the front pivot 81 and the rear pivot 81 oneach tray holder.

The length of the lever arms 85 between the pivots 81 and 81' and theopposite ends where they are attached to the chains 49 and 50 is madeconsiderably greater than the radii of the chain sprockets, so that asthe arms travel around the sprockets, the angular velocity at theirouter pivots is increased sufliciently to swing each tray holder out ofthe way of the one following. Thus the tray holders never move anycloser together than the spacing shown between the intermediate trayholders in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 7, several relative positions of tray holderstraveling around the upper sprocket 34, for example, are showndiagrammatically. The relative positions of three tray holders are shownin dot-dash lines at 70a, 70b and 70c and the space between tray holders70a and 70b is somewhat greater than the spacing of the intermediatetray holders. As the tray holders 70a and 70b move clockwise aroundsprocket 34 to the full line positions, the tray holder 70b moveslaterally out of the way of tray holder 70a due to the proportionatelyincreased length of the forked lever arms 85 which impart increasedangular velocity to the tray holder 70b. The dotted positions show thatthe tray holder 7% moves increasingly farther away from 70a as 70btravels around the sprocket.

Thus, by mounting the tray holders on the arms 85, the tray holders maybe mounted on the chains 49 and 50 at close intervals, as indicated inFigs. 3 and 4, with close clearance between the top edges of the cardsin one tray and the bottom of the tray holder next above. This makes formaximum conservation of space and provides a file having maximumcapacity per unit of floor area. As a matter of fact, a file constructedaccording to the present invention has the capacity of approximatelythree times as many record cards as a file of the rotary drumtypeoccupying the same cubical space.

In order further to stabilize the tray holders carrying loaded trays andthus reduce strain on the arms 85 and their pivot mountings, it may bedesirable in certain installations, as, for example, where trays areunevenly loaded with cards of various sizes, to provide a guide track atthe rear end of the file for the tray holders. Such a track may beU-shaped in cross-section as illustrated at 90 in dot-dash lines in Fig.3, and may be suitably supported on the rear vertical channel frame 21.

As shown, triangular guide brackets 91 may be mounted one on each pivotshaft 81 with laterally-spaced, guide rollers 92 at the lower corners ofthe brackets, One roller 92 of each bracket rolls in the track at one,side as the tray holders move upwardly, and the oppo-, site roller 92rolls in the track at the other side asrthe tray holders movedownwardly, and the rollers transfer at the ends of the track. Asindicated, the bottom end of the track may have transfer portions 93,while the top end may have the inner guide flange cut away, as shown at94.

In the operation of the novel elevator file of the present invention,assuming that the lid at the top of the cabinet enclosing the file hasbeen opened, the operator rotates the drive shaft '33 in eitherdirection, to bring two of the filing trays to the top position as shownin Fig. 4, where they are fully exposed for being worked on. Theoperator will obviously work on the cards from the front of the filebecause the sprocket 34 and the supporting frame therefor is spacedsubstantially below the tops of the tray holders. If desired, the trayholders are easily removed from the two top trays and transferred to atable or the like.

, If the drive shaft 33 is driven by a motor, the motor may be operatedby a well known double-throw switch, so that the tray holders are drivenin either direction at the will of the operator. If, for example, onlyfour of the trays are needed, four adjacent trays, such as the top fourtrays in Fig. 4, may be used. In this way the operation of making theloaded trays selectively accessible is faster, because the file can beoperated to jog the trays back and forth only the distance occupied byone tray. Under these conditions the unbalancing effect due to theloaded and empty trays is small because of the manner of supporting thetray holders, and the capacity of the four loaded trays is still aboutone and one-half times that of a rotary drum type file occupying thesame space as the entire file.

It is obvious that the novel file is readily adapted for automaticelectrical operation, by indexing the several trays and providing anautomatic push button selector whereby any desired tray can be broughtto the operatiug position. This automatic operation can easily bearranged so that the desired tray will always travel the shortestdistance in one direction or the other to the operating position at thetop of the file.

Theoretically, the arrangement of misaligned pivots at the front andback of the trays prevents tipping and limits side-sway or swinging ofthe tray holders, provided that complete rigidity of tray holders aandmountings is possible and uniform tray loading is maintained.Practically however, this arrangement cannot be depended on to preventsome tipping, sidesway or swinging of the tray holders as they move inone direction or the other around the orbit of travel, because of lackof rigidity of tray holders made of sheet metal and particularly if anytray is unevenly loaded which may result in tilting at certain locationsin the orbit of travel.

Thus, practically, the guide track and bracket arrangement illustratedin dot-dash lines in Fig. 3 must be used to prevent any tilting,sidesway or swinging of the tray holders in all instances where thetrays may be unevenly loaded. 7

The construction of the guide track and guide brackets is shown in fulllines in Figs. 8 to 12, wherein the remainder of the construction may bethe same as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 7.

When the guide track 90 is supported on the rear vertical channel frame21, the channel frame 21 is turned around as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10so that the flanges 22 thereof project outwardly. The upper end of theframe 21 is extended somewhat to support the upper end portion 95 of thetrack. The track 90 has vertical side portions 96 and 97, and the topand bottom end portions of the track and vertical side portions areconnected by curved portions, as shown. The transfer portions 93 and 93aat the bottom end of the track communicate with the track centrally ofthe lower end portion 98 by omitting a section of the top flange of theU- shaped track channel section 90 at this location, as indicated at 99.

The U- or channel-shaped cross-section of the track 90 provides channelguide flanges which are engaged by the guide bracket rollers 92 to limitmovement of the rollers excepting along the extent of the channel. Thecut-away portions 94 of the inner guide flange at the top end portion 95of the track may be flared as indicated to direct entry of one of therollers 92 into the track 90 prior to the other roller leaving thetrack.

The triangular guide brackets 91 are mounted on the pivot shafts 81 ofeach tray holder in fixed position with respect to the tray holder byany usual keying means, such as by providing a squared shaft portion 100over which a squared opening 100a in bracket 91 is engaged beneath nuts101 (Figs. 9, 11 and 12). The rollers 92 are mounted at the lowercorners .of each triangular bracket on either side of and below theconnection between the bracket and the tray holder shaft 81'. Therollers are selectively engaged in and roll within the U- flanges of thetrack member 90.

The positions of the tray holders are illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 inthe same positions as in Figs. 1 and 2. The tray holders are also shownat other locations in their paths of travel in Fig. 10.

A tray holder 68 is shown in Fig. 10 at location L with its pivot shaft81', the outer guide roller 92 and the center of sprocket 52 inalignment as indicated by dotdash line 11. Assume the absence of thetrack with the tray holder L at a different location but movingclockwise around the orbit of travel, and assume that the portion of thetray holder L to the left of a vertical line through the pivot shaft 81is loaded heavily without any load in the tray holder to the right of avertical line passing through its pivot shaft 81'.

Under such circumstances, the left-hand side of the tray holder,particularly adjacent pivot shaft 81 at its rear end, tends to continueto move downward and to impart a twist to the tray holder as the trayholder continues to travel downward and around to the left. Thistendency of the tray holder to twist can result in upsetting andimproper operation or jamming of the equipment. Similar conditions canoccur as the tray holders pass around each comer of the orbit of travel,depending upon the direction of travel and the manner of tray loadmg.

The track arrangement 90 illustrated in Figs. 3, 8, 9 and 10 cooperatingwith the guide rollers 92 and triangular guide brackets 91 prevents anysuch twisting or tilting of any of the tray holders at any place and atall times in the path of travel of the tray holders. Referringparticularly to Fig. 10, any tendency of any tray holder to tilt due touneven loading as the tray holder is moving either upward or downwardalong either of the vertical track portions 96 or 97 is prevented byengagement of the rollers 92 with either the outer or inner flange ofthe U-shaped track section. As any tray holder moves in its path oftravel around either of the top corners between the top end tracksection 95, and either of vertical track sections 96 and 97, swinging ofthe tray holder is prevented by one or the other of the rollers 92engaging the inner or outer flange of the track section, if the trayholder is subjected to a force tending to produce tilting in eitherdirection.

With particular reference to the tray holder illustrated in full linesat the top left-hand corner of Fig. 10, any force imparted to the trayholder 68 tending to produce tilting causes the left-hand roller 92 totend to swing about pivot shaft 81' as a pivot point. Such movement ofthe roller 92 is substantially at right angles to the inner and outerflanges of track and is immediately resisted thereby.

As the tray holder 68 passes across the top track section 95, at leastone roller 92 is engaged in the track while the other roller is movinginto or out of the track entryopening 94, and the engaged rollerprevents swinging movement of the tray in either direction by imme- 9diate contact with one of the track flanges at an angle with respectthereto.

When a tray holder is at location L in Fig. 10, different conditionsprevail which require the presence of the transfer section 93a. Assumethat a tray holder 68 is moving downward around the lower right-handcorner, unevenly loaded so that the tray holder is at all times subjectto a tendency to tilt. As the tray holder moves downwardly its pivotsupport 81 is above a line passing through the right-hand roller 92 andthe center of sprocket 52. At location 1--1, pivot shaft 81' becomesaligned with roller 92 and the center of sprocket 52. With continuedmovement pivot shaft 81' passes below the line passing through thelatter somewhat in the fashion of a toggle.

In passing through this condition, represented by the line 11, anytilting movement imparted to the tray 68 is not resisted by lowerright-hand roller 92 in the main track section since roller 92 couldswing and move longitudinally of the track. For instance, with the trayholder 68 traveling clockwise and uneven tray loading tending to impartcounterclockwise tilting movement to the tray holder, the tendency wouldbe for the downwardly traveling lower right-hand roller 92 to reverseits direction of travel in the track and to move upward therein, inpassing through the 1--1 location.

This tilting movement, however, is resisted by the lefthand roller 92engaged in transfer portion 93a, because such guide roller whensubjected to tilting movement is engaged substantially at right anglesby one or the other of the flanges of the transfer track section 93a.

Similar situations can occur at the lower left-hand corner of the pathof travel depending on the direction of tray holder travel and thenature of tray loading.

Thus, the track 99, triangular brackets 91 and rollers 92 provideanti-tilting means maintaining the tray holders horizontal at all times.

The cooperative relation of the particular arrangement of offset driveand anti-tilting means is also of importance Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 8and 10, the front of the device is to the right in Figs. 1 and 8, andthe fronts of the tray holders at the top are accessible to the operatorwithout substantial interference by the drive mechanism since the pivotshafts 81 are at the lower portion of the front end of the tray holders.In the lowermost position of any tray, as at the bottom of Figs. 1 and8, this pivot support 81 is located immediately above the base. Thus,there is no space below the pivot shafts 81 at the front of the trayholders for the downward projection of any brackets 91 at the front endsof the trays, or for locating any track therebelow, without raising theeffective height of the equipment. However, because of the offsetting ofthe front and rear sprockets and the vertical offsetting upward of therear pivot shafts 81, the track 90 and triangular brackets 91 may belocated below the pivot shafts 81 at the rear ends of the tray holders,as shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 10 without any increase in height of thedevice. Thus ample clearance is present at the lower left corner of Fig.8 for the downward projection of bracket 91 and location of lowerportion 98 of track 90 above the bottom of the lowermost tray holder 68.

The novel elevator filing appliance of the present invention accordinglyretains substantially all of the advantages of the rotary drum type offile, and embodies many advantages thereover, especially the advantageof much greater capacity per unit of floor area. Other advantagesinclude rendering accessible two card trays of increased capacityside-by-side simultaneously; using interchangeable conventional traysand interchangeable unpunched conventional cards without anchoring thetrays or cards; the ability to accommodate various heights of cardsinterchangeably; and the ability to remove the trays easily at any time,and to utilize only part of the card trays at one end of the appliance.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein is by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation anduse of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new anduseful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a filing appliance, a base, longitudinally spaced vertical frontand rear frame members supported on the base, a pair of verticallyspaced sprockets carried by each frame, a first endless chain forming adriving connection between the pair of sprockets carried by the frontframe, a second endless chain forming a driving connection between thepair of sprockets carried by the rear frame, common drive means for saidsprockets, a plurality of card tray holders located longitudinallybetween the frame members, said holders being vertically spaced andhorizontally disposed; a trunnion fixed to and extending from each endof each holder, lever arms connected to the first and second chains atintervals and extending laterally outwardly from the chains andpivotally connected to the trunnions; a series of guide brackets, onesecured to each trunnion at one end of each holder, a pair of rollers oneach bracket vertically and horizontally offset from the brackettrunnion connection; continuous guide track means on one of the framemembers adjacent the ends of the holders on which the guide brackets aresecured, the track means surrounding the corresponding chain; thecontinuous track means including spaced parallel vertical portions andconnecting upper and lower end portions, one roller on any guide bracketbeing engageable with one vertical portion and portions of the upper andlower end portions of the continuous track means, the other roller onsuch bracket being engageable with the other vertical track portion andother portions of the upper and lower end portions of the track meansduring travel of the bracket in an orbit of movement completely aroundthe track; the track means having roller entry openings in the upper andlower end portions through which the rollers engage and disengage thetrack portions, there being roller transfer track portions in one of theend portions communicating with the corresponding roller entry opening,and both rollers of any pair being engaged simultaneously respectivelywith at least one transfer portion and one end portion of thetrack'means during movement of the holder on which said pair of rollersis mounted along the said track end portion in the orbit of travel ofthe holder, whereby the continuous engagement of the guide bracketrollers with the track means always retains the tray holders in ahorizontal position during travel.

2. In a filing appliance, a base, longitudinally spaced vertical frontand rear frame members supported on the base, a vertically spaced pairof sprockets journaled in each frame member, endless chains carried bythe front and rear sprockets, means for driving one sprocket of eachpair, lever arms secured to said chains at intervals and extendinglaterally outwardly therefrom, a plurality of card tray holders, saidholders being located between said frame members, means pivotallymounting an end of each holder on the outer end of one of said leverarms, said holders being vertically spaced and horizontally disposed, aguide bracket rigidly connected to one end of each holder, a pair ofrollers rotatably secured to each bracket, the roller mountings andbracket connection being triangularly arranged with the rollers of anypair vertically offset from the pivotal mounting of the respectiveholder on its lever arm; continuous guide track means on one of theframe members adjacent the ends of the holders on which the brackets aresecured, the track means surrounding the corresponding chain; thecontinuous track means including spaced parallel vertical portions andconnecting upper and lower end portions, one roller on any guide bracketbeing engageable with one vertical portion and portions of the upper andlower end portions of the continuous track means, the other roller onsuch bracket being engageable with the other vertical track portion andother portions of the upper and lower end portions of the track meansduring travel of the bracket in an orbit of movement completely aroundthe track; the track means having roller entry openings in the upper andlower end portions through which the rollers engage and disengage thetrack portions, there being roller transfer track portions in one of theend portions communicating with the corresponding roller entry opening,and both rollers of any pair being engaged simultaneously respectivelywith at least one transfer portion and one end portion of the trackmeans during movement of the holder on which said pair of rollers ismounted along the said track end portion in the orbit of travel of theholder, whereby the continuous engagement of the guide bracket rollerswith the track means always retains the tray holders in a horizontalposition during travel.

3. The filing appliance construction defined in claim 2 in which thecontinuous track means is channel shaped in cross-section with an outercontinuous channel flange, and in which the entry openings in the upperand lower end portions are formed in the inner channel flange.

4. The filing appliance construction defined in claim 1 in which theroller transfer portions communicate with the lower end portion rollerentry opening and in which the trunnion on any holder moving along theupper track portion is located above said upper track portion duringsuch upper track portion movement of such holder.

5. The filing appliance construction defined in claim 1 in which therollers of each pair are vertically offset below said trunnion.

6. The filing appliance construction defined in claim 1 in which atleast one of the trunnions on an end of a holder extends from the upperportion of said end of the holder, and in which the upper end of theguide bracket is secured to said upper extending trunnion.

7. The filling appliance construction defined in claim 1 in which thetrunnion mounted on the front end of each holder is located at the lowerportion of said holder, and the trunnion at the rear end of each holderis located at the upper portion of the holder vertically offset fromsaid lower trunnion, in which the axes of the upper sprockets of eachpair are vertically offset a distance equal to the vertical offsetbetween the upper and lower trunnions, and in which the upper end of theguide bracket on each holder is secured to the upper rear end trunnion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS864,438 Szczys Aug. 27, 1907 893,563 Basler July 14, 1908 1,054,959Anderson Mar. 4, 1913 1,072,007 Hick Sept. 2, 1913 1,698,545 Hill Jan.8, 1929 1,859,874 James May 24, 1932 2,125,619 Parent Aug. 2, 19382,370,546 Kiesling Feb. 27, 1945 2,570,150 Osojnak Oct. 2, 19512,603,547 Zook July 15, 1952

